Jane Fryers is a British milliner who has led the innovative use of fish leather in contemporary hatmaking. She trained at the London College of Fashion and Kensington & Chelsea College before studying intensively with Rose Cory MBE. In 2005 she received a scholarship from the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), enabling her to undertake advanced training in traditional millinery skills and continue her studies with Rose Cory. The scholarship also opened doors to new opportunities, exhibitions, and collaborations that continue to influence her work today.

Jane has been a pioneer in the use of fish leather in millinery, a material she began exploring after seeing a photograph of a salmon‑skin bikini designed by Claudia Escobar. What started as a moment of curiosity developed into a sustained investigation into how this durable, sustainable material could be integrated into traditional millinery techniques. Her fish‑leather pieces have been exhibited internationally and were even presented to HM Queen Elizabeth II during the Diamond Jubilee year, prompting the memorable question of whether the material “smelled fishy” — it does not, she confirms.

Her work has received significant recognition, including first prize in the Italian Cappelli nel Mondo competition, second prize in the Feltmakers Design Competition, and a finalist position in The Hat Magazine’s Designer of the Year. Alongside her material research, Jane maintains a strong focus on upcycling and the creative reuse of existing textiles.

Jane also teaches at Central Saint Martins and other specialist private millinery schools, sharing her technical knowledge and enthusiasm for experimentation with both emerging and experienced makers.

In 2025, Jane published Keep It Under Your Hat: A Little Book of Linings, a practical yet playful guide that explores the selection, construction, and fitting of linings inside hats, further cementing her role as both a maker and an educator within the millinery community.

This podcast is hosted and produced by Lauren Ritchie for MillineryInfo

Denise Innes-Spencer is a milliner and teacher based in Liverpool.  She founded The British School of Millinery in 1996.  The school offers face-to-face and online courses for all levels from beginners through to experienced practitioners.

She began her career as a pattern cutter and spent time working at what is now known as Angels Costumes before setting up her own freelance business and training as a teacher.  She learnt her millinery skills from the legendary Rose Cory and attended classes for many years.

In 2017 Denise wrote and published her first book which focuses on skill development for bridal headdresses with detailed, illustrated instructions that explore wires, knitted wires, beads and diamantes.

She is a regular contributor to The Hat Magazine sharing techniques across a range of materials.  Denise currently teaches millinery at John Moores University and has been a guest teacher at London Hat Week and Barcelona Hat Week alongside working with The Brain Charity in Liverpool.

You can purchase Denise’s book Tiara Headdresses at  https://www.thebritishschoolofmillinery.com/product-page/tiara-headdresses-by-denise-innes-spencer

Pick up the latest copy of The Hat Magazine or read it online at https://www.thehatmagazine.com/

Misa Harada is a renowned milliner who has made a name for herself in the fashion industry with her exquisite and innovative hat designs. Born in Tokyo, Japan, she moved to London to complete her studies and stumbled into a millinery course that then set her on the path to studies at the Royal College of Art.  She went on to work for Fredrick Fox before launching her own label.

She established her brand in London in 1998, and her designs have graced the runways of London Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and New York Fashion Week.  Misa and her team create three ranges of styles which she sells to over 100 wholesalers in 15 countries.  She also creates pieces for bespoke customers.  Each hat is carefully finished by hand, using traditional millinery techniques in her London Studio.

In 2023 Misa Harada was invited to design the pin for Wear a Hat Day in support of Brain Tumour Research. The pins feature one of her signature designs, a heart-shaped hat with the word love scripted on the top.

Pick up your Misa Harada Signature Wear a Hat Day Brooch here.

Martine Henry is a milliner and designer who creates headwear that will crown your day.  An avid wearer of headwraps and hairbands Martine uses traditional craft techniques and frequently draws on her Afro Caribbean heritage for her design muse. She works with fine wax cottons and luxurious silks combine with exotic straws with a bright and vibrant colour palette.

Martine studied millinery at London College of Fashion and the highly regarded HNC in Millinery at Kensington and Chelsea College which she was awarded a distinction for her work. She has worked with Gina Foster, Stephen Jones, Atelier Millinery and RIZVI Millinery to further develop her millinery skills. After graduating from her studies in 2013 she was awarded a Feltmaker’s Design Award.

Since launching her own label her hats have been stocked in Fenwick’s of Bond Street and Atelier Millinery. She has designed hats and headpieces for award-winning bridal label Eliza Jane Howell. In 2020 Martine was invited to work again with Stephen Jones OBE and collaborate to design African Wax print head wraps and hair bands for Dior under designer Maria Grazia Chiuri for the Common Ground cruise collection.